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StellaAlice
Reviews
Pay It Forward (2000)
give it a try
I have to admit I am a bit surprised. I did not think I would like this movie at all. The film did not have an earth shattering effect on my life, but wow, these are some great performances. The acting might have been a bit better than the actual film, but nevertheless, I found the movie to be quite good, even moving. I thought it avoided being truly sappy and in the end the film as a whole compensates for any overly cheesy moments early on. There are a lot of little moments within this film that carry so much more weight than the bigger, more "Hollywood" moments. Without being pretentious, all the supporting characters in the film speak great truths (directly and indirectly) about life and I get the feeling that this movie needs to be watched closely in order for the best parts to be absorbed. One more thing, Angie Dickinson is the best.
The Golden Bowl (2000)
Merchant and Ivory do it once again!
For those people who loved "A Room With a View" and "Howards End" but hated "Surviving Picasso" and "A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries," all is well in the universe. "The Golden Bowl" is excellent in every way. The film is exquisitely balanced. Nick Nolte, Kate Beckinsale, Angelica Houston and Uma Thurman are all amazing. Jeremy Northam is even better. The cinematography, the writing, the costumes; everything fits together. This is not a sleepy and slow costume drama, it is an exhilarating masterpiece. I do not know how loyal the screenplay is to James' novel, but the story is very moving and even though it is a "period piece," the issues that the characters face somehow seem contemporary. Uma Thurman's character Charlotte is one of the most heart-wrenching on-screen women I've seen recently. I hope the film can keep up a presence until the next Oscar race begins. This is one of the best films I have seen so far this year.
Safe (1995)
beautiful and hypnotic
I have watched this film over and over again, and each time I see it I become more enchanted by it. This film, in my humble opinion, is one of the best (and most emotionally charged) films that I have ever seen. The film literally invades the viewer and although this invasion creates a sense of discomfort and at times alarm, the over-all effect is brutal and stunning. Todd Haynes, with help from Julianne Moore, is able to present a character that is not very sympathetic, but who is a woman that the viewer cannot help but feel sorry for, as she searches for a sense (and place) of safety. I highly recommend giving this film a chance, and please don't give up on it if you don't like it at first. . .